The Rememberers

Does it really exist?
A book thicker than
Webster's Third,
too heavy to handle,
with the names of
those who remember.

Those who remember
the mass murders,
rapes, assaults,
bombings, massacres,
frauds, thefts.
violations
of every human
right.

This book contains
more memories than
there are words
in the English
language. It is
a vocabulary of grief,
a dictionary of shame,
the self-inflicted
scars of our species.

This book will not
go away or lighten
its Sisyphean load
until we spew out
its contents
and stand up to
the murderers,
rapists, molesters,
warmongers,
whore mongers,
corrupt hacks,
mobsters,
dictators,
racists and
purveyors of hate,
and all committers
of atrocities.

This millstone will not
be removed from our necks
until we stand up.
Stand up.
Stand up!
STAND UP!
STAND UP NOW!